Boiler signal control



Dec. 12, 1939. J. R. BROWN BOILER SIGNAL CONTROL Filed Nov. 14, 1936 INVENTOR. 10/172 Fowiancf fimwn BY ATTORNEYfi Patented Dec. 12, 1939 PATENT OFFIQE BOILER. SIGNAL CONTROL John Rowland Brown, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor to The Reliance Gauge Column Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 14, 1936, Serial No. 110,785 2 Claims. 01. 137-402) It has been known for some time to provide a whistle alarm whereby the low water level in the steam boiler may give notice of its condition.

A device of this sort however in order to be practically useful must be free from tendency to erratic action by reason of dirt or corrosion, and

a more extensive system is also fundamentally,

desirable whereby not only one simple alarmjmay be provided with also additional operating connections for further alarm purposes or actuation of other desired mechanism.

7 vTo the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle 20 of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of structure embodying the invention, parts being broken and associated structures being omitted, on account of space limitation; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a detail thereof, on large scale; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line III-III, Fig. 3; and Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line IVIV, Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown a water chamber or water column 2 having communication with a steam boiler through a water connection pipe 3 and an upper steam pipe 4, the water column 2 being positioned such that the fluctuating water level in the boiler has its counter-part therein and operates a float 5 which in turn actuates a lever 6. A valve body 1 is located in the wall of the water-chamber 2, for instance screw threadedly passing through the wall above the normal water level, and on the inner lower portion of the valve body is a horizontal fulcrum pin 8 mounting the end of the lever 6. In a pair of lugs III on the end portion 45 of the lever B in extension over such fulcrum pin 8 is a horizontal pivot pin I I normally in the same vertical plane as the lever fulcrum pin 8 when the lever 6 is in its uppermost or horizontal position. Pivoted to the pin II and extending out- 50 wardly in a steam-exit passage I2 to close against a valve seat I3 in the valve body I is a valve plunger M, the valve being closed when the lever B is in its uppermost position substantially horizontal, as positioned when the boiler water level 55 is properly high. Leading from the valve seat I3 is a passage I5 to an alarm whistle It on the upper; outer end of the valve body I. From the structure so far described, it is seen that while the boiler water level is of proper height the float 5 holds the lever 6 in its uppermost position and thereby normally maintains the valve I3 closed, but if the water level falls such as to lower the float and thelever 5 the valve plunger iii is correspondingly pulled away from the valve seat I3 and allows steam to escape out through the passage-way I5 and sound the alarm whistle Pivoted on the same pin II and with suitable spacing, as for instance by a sleeve ll is another valve plunger It extending outwardly through another steam exit passage-way I9 to close against another valveseat 25 in the valve body I, but this valve plunger, unlike the valve plunger I4, has a lost motion connection or slot 2! in its mounting on the pin II, such that the second valve plunger I8 opens the valve only after the lever 6 has dropped a further predetermined distance subsequent to its opening the valve It for the alarm whistle I6. Leading from the valve 2b is another steam passage-way 22 to connect to such further means as desired, a further signal or a control in the form of a shut-off of the fuel to the furnace heating the boiler. Thus for example, the steampassage 22 from the valve 2t may communicate with a connection 25 to a steamoperated valve 25 of any desired detail construction, serving to shut off the gas or liquid fuel in the line 28 leading to the burner in the furnace heating the boiler.

The valve plunger I8 has to operate under drastic and unfavorable conditions, and with its lost motion or slot-connection to the pin II is subjected to particular possibilities of interference by dirt from the scum, etc., thrown up and from corrosion. I have found that no safe or consistent operation under such conditions is possible unless such valve plunger be provided with a positivelyacting seating means which can take charge at all times when the position of the pivot pin I! will permit. Thus, a subsequently-timed or delayed lost-motion operation of the valve plunger It is bad, and at the same time a positive sure-acting closure of the valve. For this, I preferably provide a positive closure member in the form of a spring 27 carried by projection or screw 28 on the lever at a point inward of its fulcrum 8, the spring extending outwardly to bear at 29 against the end of the valve plunger I8, forcing it against the valve seat when the position of the pivot pin I I as determined by the position of the lever 6 permits.

The general operation of the device is clear from the foregoing. While the boiler water level is of proper height, the float 5 holds the lever 6 in its uppermost, or horizontal position as shown in the drawing, and both valves l3 and 20 are closed. If the proper water level should not be maintained, and the float 5 falls, the lever B is drawn downwardly and fulcruming about its fulcrum-pin 8 pulls the valve plunger I4 from its seat and allows escape of steam through the passage l5 to sound the alarm whistle 6. If the water level falls still further the point is reached where the pivot pin l l passing through the limit of its slot 2| pulls the valve plunger l8 from its seat 20, and allows steam to escape through passage 22 to the fuel shut-off valve or whatever connection is applied. When the water level is raised subsequently, the float 5 and lever B raises to a position allowing the valve seating spring 21 to force the valve plunger l8 into position closing the valve 20, and with further raising, the valve plunger I4 is closed against its seat l3. A multiple valve or signal device is accordingly had in which each valve unit is positively operated, and in a manner dependable and properly consecutive under all the varied conditions to which it may be subjected.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a float-actuated lever, a valve body having on its inner lower portion a horizontal fulcrum pin mounting the end of said lever, a horizontal pivot pin in said lever positioned normally over and in the same vertical plane as said lever fulcrum, a valve plunger pivoted on said last named pin and extending outwardly in a steam exit passage to close against a valve seat in said valve body when said lever is in its uppermost position substantially horizontal, a second valve plunger pivoted by a lost motion slot to the same pin carrying the 'first valve plunger and extending outwardly through another steam exit passage to close against another valve seat in said valve body, such lost motion allowing the second valve plunger to open when said float actuated lever has fallen to a lower level, and a spring supported by a projection on the lever at a point inward of the fulcrum and extending outwardly against the end of the lost motion valve plunger to force it against the valve seat when the lever permits.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a float actuated lever having on its inner portion a horizontal fulcrum pin mounting the end of said lever, a horizontal pivot pin in said lever positioned normally over and in the same vertical plane as said lever fulcrum, a valve plunger pivoted on said last named pin and extending outwardly in a steam exit passage to close against a valve seat in said valve body when said lever is in its uppermost position substantially horizontal, a second valve plunger pivoted by a lost motion slot to the same pin carrying the first valve plunger and extending outwardly through another steam exit passage to close against another valve seat in said valve body, such lost motion allowing the second valve plunger to open when said float actuated lever has fallen to a lower level, and positive mechanical means, out of contact with said pivot pin, and supported by a projection on the lever at a point inward of the fulcrum and extending outwardly against the end of the lost motion valve plunger for forcing the lost motion valve plunger against its valve seat when the lever permits,.

JOHN ROWLAND BROWN. 

